In 2016 DAFWA, in collaboration with the WMG, established three claying trials in the region looking at combinations of different clay rates and incorporation methods using a range of tillage equipment. The aim of the trials was to identify the most cost-effective combination/s and produce practical guidelines for farmers seeking long term improvement for enhanced crop productivity on water repellent soils under local growing conditions.
The 2016 Bioprime trial at the WMG site was conducted to investigate the interactions of Bioprime application with in-furrow liquid fertiliser compared to conventional granular fertiliser, and their effects on plant growth and grain yield. Bioprime was added as a seed dressing (2 L/t seed), and/or as a post emergence spray (4 L/ha). This is the fifth of Bioprime field trials (three previous years with Liebe Group at Buntine and at Forrestdale with different crops). West Midlands Group (WMG) trial design in 2016 was replicated exactly at the Liebe Group and to some extent at Forrestdale in 2016.
Potassium deficiency often goes unnoticed until cereals reach late tillering to early stem elongation, by which time it is difficult to predict if an economic response will be achieved if remedied. Granular products such as Muriate of Potash (MoP) require rainfall to become available and crop response is therefore often delayed. Lokomotive (27% K) is a new foliar potassium product from Loveland Industries that has low leaf burn risk and high foliar uptake and has demonstrated potential for correcting potassium deficiency. This trial was designed to evaluate Lokomotive as an in season foliar potassium source for correcting potassium deficiency and compare to muriate of potash.
Cultivation is the predominant management tool for subsoil compaction. This may be in the form of deep ripping, spading or ploughing – each with varying costs, benefits and disadvantages of the chosen application. The primary aim of this trial is to test increasing the economic viability of deep ripping using controlled traffic and the addition of topsoil and ameliorants to the subsoil. The trial was located in Moora on deep loamy yellow sand. The results showed the importance of ripping below the hard pan with deeper ripping.
Using potassium fertiliser has come to light in the past decade by farmers as a vitally important nutrient to add to crops and pastures to achieve increased plant vigor and growth. This trial aimed at looking at the different strategies on the best ways to apply potassium (K) based fertilisers to crops. This trial was conducted over three years in Waddington on sand over gravelly sand clay at 50cm.
This trial was implemented in 2015 to determine which ameliorant practice is the most effective and economic in remediating subsoil acidity at depth. The trial consists of four replicates of different mixing (untreated, spaded, grizzly) with products applied (untreated, lime, dolomite and lime and dolomite). This trial was designed by a project committee of Liebe members to determine the most effective liming strategy to maximise the return on investment in the Liebe region. The trial was located west of Wubin on a poor performing paddock that has the potential to improve once subsoil constraints have been addressed.
This trial was implemented in 2015 to determine which ameliorant practice is the most effective and economic in remediating subsoil acidity at depth. The trial consists of four replicates of different mixing (untreated, spaded, grizzly) with products applied (untreated, lime, dolomite and lime and dolomite). This trial was designed by a project committee of Liebe members to determine the most effective liming strategy to maximise the return on investment in the Liebe region. The trial was located west of Wubin on a poor performing paddock that has the potential to improve once subsoil constraints have been addressed.
Blackleg is the major disease of canola production across Australia with current GRDC estimated yield losses of $66 /ha. This trial was conducted to compare crop emergence between treatments, programs of seed and foliar fungicides for BL control as well as yield and dollar return on investment between canola disease programs. This trial was conducted on Banksia sand in Moora.
Serradella is a useful pasture species on the sandy soils of the West Midlands. But it has two major weaknesses: weed control (particularly radish and capeweed) and a lack of early biomass production. By sowing serradella with a Clearfield Barley variety (Scope or Spartacus) and using Clearfield (Imidazolinone) herbicides both of these weaknesses can be overcome. The aim of this demonstration was to highlight the pro’s and con’s of using Clearfield Barley as a cover crop when sowing serradella pastures. This trial was conducted on deep pale yellow sand west of Moora.
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